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Golden Guernsey Dairy employees and state officials are still searching for answers after the Waukesha facility’s parent company abruptly and unexpectedly ordered the plant’s closure over the weekend.

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development was not notified of the dairy processing plant’s closure in advance, spokesman John Dipko told The Business Journal on Monday afternoon. Under state law, companies employing 50 or more people in Wisconsin may be required to give 60 days notice before a mass layoff or closing.

Several employees are filing complaints with the state over the way the plant was closed, Fowle said.

If it’s determined the facility’s parent company, Los Angeles-based private equity firm OpenGate Capital, improperly closed the facility, employees could recover back pay and benefits for each day the notice wasn’t provided, up to 60 days, Dipko said. The company could face additional liabilities, he said.

“Today, in addition to trying to establish contact with the company, we’ve been working with our regional work force partner to set up rapid response services” for affected workers, Dipko said.

Saturday began like any normal work day for Fowle, 47. But at about 7 a.m., two hours into his shift, he and the small group of employees working that day were called together for a meeting, he said.

Their plant manager announced that he had received an email from OpenGate Capital that instructed him to tell employees to pack their belongings and leave, and that the plant was to be shut down immediately, Fowle said.

“There was no explanation as to why,” Fowle, an Oak Creek resident, said. “It was a great group of people to work with and work for. Having this happen is just a total shock.”

A spokeswoman for OpenGate Capital did not return a phone message and an email seeking comment.

OpenGate Capital bought the facility from Dallas-based Dean Foods Co. in 2011, after Dean Foods was ordered to sell the facility under a settlement of a federal antitrust lawsuit.

The plant manufactured, bottled and distributed dairy products to schools, grocery stores, convenience stores and major retailers in Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin.

Project is part of more than $200 million Tribe currently investing in Milwaukee

The Forest County Potawatomi Community (FCPC) recently broke ground on its $18.6 million renewable energy facility in the Menomonee Valley.

The waste-to-energy project, one of the first of its kind in the Milwaukee-area, will convert waste materials generated by the food and beverage industries to electricity. The electricity produced will be sold to WE Energies as renewable energy. The installation is expected to produce approximately 2.0 megawatts (MW) of electrical power, which is enough electricity to power approximately 1,500 homes.

The facility is being developed one block west of Potawatomi Bingo Casino (PBC) on land owned by the FCPC. Construction of the facility is expected to create 75-100 construction jobs at its peak and another 5 full-time jobs when completed. Construction is estimated to last one year.

“This project is an example of how renewable energy projects can benefit both the environment and the local economy. It will not only keep waste from our landfills, but also provides opportunities to partner with other local businesses and industries,” said Jeff Crawford, Attorney General for the Forest County Potawatomi Community. “We hope that this project will allow others to see the many benefits that small-scale renewable energy projects can bring to communities.”

The Tribe partnered with several Wisconsin-based companies on this project. The biogas engines used in the facility were manufactured by General Electric at their Waukesha, Wis. plant. Neenah, Wis.-based Miron Construction Co., Inc. will provide overall project management and general contracting. Symbiont, Inc., which is headquartered in Milwaukee, will provide balance of plant engineering. West Allis, Wis.-based Advanced Waste Services, Inc. will be the provider of the feedstock material.

The U.S. Department of Energy and Focus on Energy also partnered with the FCPC on this project.

The construction of this project is one part of more than $200 million the Forest County Potawatomi Community is currently investing in the City of Milwaukee. In addition to developing a renewable energy facility, the Tribe is also currently developing a $36 million data center on the Concordia Trust property on Milwaukee’s near west side and a $150 million, 381-room hotel adjacent to Potawatomi Bingo Casino in the Menomonee Valley.

“The Forest County Potawatomi have called Milwaukee home for hundreds of years,” said Crawford. “We are proud of our ongoing investments in the area which help make Milwaukee, and Wisconsin, an even better place live and do business.”

Alderwoman Milele A. Coggs, Alderman Willie C. Wade and Alderman Ashanti Hamilton invited city residents to a housing resource fair on Saturday at the Department of Public Works field facility, 3850 N. 35th St. A number of key groups will be on hand to explain how to buy a foreclosed home, what resources are at your disposal to make home repairs, and what to do if you’re facing foreclosure.

“Our office gets a lot of calls about housing needs, repairs, and foreclosure concerns,” Alderwoman Coggs said. “This event is just one way we are trying to bring the resources to the people, and it is my sincere hope that as many people as possible come and learn more about the resources that are available.”

In addition to three free workshops, representatives from nearly two dozen organizations will be on hand to answer questions about housing repair, foreclosure help and more, in a no-stress, no commitment environment.

“The resource fair is an opportunity for people who might otherwise wait too long to seek help in avoiding foreclosure because of pride, fear or something else,” Alderman Wade said. “Real help is available at the resource fair, and it’s a perfect opportunity for people to find out how they might access the advice and assistance they need.”

The Neighborhood Improvement Development Corp. and city staff will also be available to go over current city programs and to offer guidance through the application process. You can learn more at the NIDC website, http://city.milwaukee.gov/NIDC.

“The most immediate impact we can have on stabilizing neighborhoods is in the area of housing,” Alderman Hamilton said.“I believe that by offering information about purchasing foreclosed homes, helping people avoid foreclosure, and directing them to resources to help with needed home repair, we can go a long way to help the city and its residents rebound from this economic downturn.”

Meta House was the first residential treatment facility in the country designed specifically for women with substance use disorders, and has been providing long-term gender-responsive treatment in Milwaukee for more 40 years. Meta House was also one of the first in the nation to include children in the residential setting.

“Meta House has been very successful treating mothers at high risk of perpetrating abuse and neglect while keeping their children with them safely,” said Dr. Francine Feinberg, Executive Director of Meta House. “Alongside the mother’s recovery process, Meta House is working with Child Welfare to ensure the children are protected and their needs are being met.”

Serving some of the most vulnerable and socially stigmatized groups in society, Meta House is committed to helping women who are addicted to alcohol and other drugs (and their children); get their lives back on track. Meta House is uniquely able to provide this service because among its almost 80 employees, many are themselves in recovery.

The organization’s Board of Directors wholeheartedly embrace two truths about substance abuse treatment: 1) The preconditions, experience and effects of substance abuse are different for women and 2) Traditional models of treatment are anchored in the male experience and do not fully address women’s needs. With support, guidance and understanding from its Board of Directors, Meta House has earned a national reputation for providing successful outcomes to women and families struggling to overcome the often devastating effects of drug and alcohol addiction.

Oftentimes drug and alcohol addiction are societal issues that ‘swept under the rug,’ but through its holistic treatment approach and determination to build stronger families, Meta House’s approach is that substance abuse does not exist in isolation. The organization provides holistic treatment that includes relapse prevention services, and features coordinated care that addresses every aspect of life, including job-readiness training, skill-building and employment assistance, parenting and nurturing education, mental health support and trauma management, social skill-building and cultural development, nutrition, living and health skills training.

Dedicated to putting the neighbor back in the hood, Meta House has worked for the past 40 years to reduce the stigma attached to substance abuse and to help women overcome barriers to treatment.